Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-13
WHAT ALL TALK ABOUT.

The Death of MIR. beecher the u nj
versal Topic of Conversation.
NEW YORK, March 12.-The death OF
Henry Ward Beecher is the universal
topic OF conversation. On the streets aud
in hotels, on horse cars and in barrooms,
on ferry boats and In private parlors the
merits and demerIts of the great dead man
are canvassed anew.
first saw Mr.. Beecher in 1854. I was
then boy setting type in John A. Gray's
printing office, Frankfort and Cliff
streets, in this city. The Independent, the
Knickerbocker, the Protestant Church
man and other publications were printed
there. Mr.. Beecher was editor OF the In
dependent at that time. Once week he
came to the establishment to read his
proof sheets. The proof room opened d.
rectly back or my case. Everything said
within 1t was beard by the boys at the
row OF cases. Louis GAYLORD Clark, ex-
President Roberts, of Liberia, old DR..
Tying and others frequently met MIR.
Beecher in this room and exchanged the
latest stories. There were no chestnuts
in those days. Clark was excessively
funny. His yarns were light and trifling
and provoked surface laughter. Beecher's
stories were told with a gravity and
sedateness that gathered all the elements
of humOr in narration, and launched the
climax upon the bearer With side-splittlng
suddenness. His vivldness OF description
and terseness or phraseology never shone
to better advantages than when whiling
away a social hour in the presence of
literary friends.
last saw Mr.. Beecher at the reception
| given to David Dudley Field on his S0Ch
| birthday. 1t was at the house OF his
| brother Cyrus, near Gramercy Park. The
| parlors were filed with eminent men.
| Among them were Roscoe Conkling, Jay
Gould. John Kelley, stephen j. Field,
| John B. Haskin, George II. Watrous. and
a host OF lesser lights. The greatest at
traction was three clergymen. One was
! MIR Beecher, the second was the Rev. T..
| Dewitt Talmage, and the third was
Mgr. Capel. Beechcr and Talmage were
the centre of admiring groups, while the
MonsignOr stood In an angle of the par
Tor shaking hands with those who had
| the pleasure OF an Introduction. Ii was ev-
ident that neither MIR. Beecher nor DR..
Talmage knew OF the presence OF the dis
tinguished Roman Catholic divine. The
MOnslgnor wore suit OF clerical black,
with lilac-cOlored sash over b shoul-
ders and around his waist. When asked
whether he wished an introduction to
Mir. Beecher he smiled and replied
| ''lt would be tue greatest pleasure OF
| nv life. He is the one man in America
whom particularly desire to meet,''
Three minutes later had Mr.. Beecher
by the arm. 1 told him that the Monsig-
nor desired an Introduction to him. Mr..
Beecher's eyes twinkled.
"Whaps his oalibre7" ne asked, as he
! moved toward the liiac-sotteaed sash.
And can you tell me whether he 10 load
ed Tor bear or for quailT
As the pride. ot intellectual Brooklyn
| was presented the English priest moved
forward and shook both OF his hands.
San, Mr.. BeecDer," said ne, "tnis is in
deed a pleasure. 10 | at last see The
world-re no wned apostle of American 1t
has been the ambition OF my lite. This ia
| the prOudest moment or nv existence"
"lbe pleasure is mutual" Mr.. Beecher
replied. IL am glad to meet you. Your
| Intellect have admired, but you are
much more handsome man than l had
imagined"
"Wbat," broke in the Monsignor with
low laugh, ''getting jealous of me al.
readyw
After further pleasant bandlage Mr..
Beecher grayely invited Capel TO come
over to Plymouth church some Sunday
| and preach to his congregation.
beware, Mr.. Beecher," responded the
| Monsignor in a seductive tone, "tUis is a
day OF wonder vi possibilities. l might
turn your flock from the OF its ways.
Some might be converted"
all In une nnur you can undo what IL
has taken m forty years 10 Develop Mr..
Beecher SAID, you must be very re-
markable msn indeed. I'd like to have
you come and try IL. Come and preach 10
US. IL will do you good, and we snail be
glad TO listen TO you"
About TINS time the Rev. DR.. Talmage
was introduced. The Monsignor mad be.
gun 70 anOint him with the oil Of hattery
when Mr.. Thomas McElrath presented
Russell sage.
"He's worth $4,000. 00O," were words
whispered In the priests ear, whereupon
the man immortal zed IN "LOthlar'
turned his back on botn Beecher and
ialmage and yainly tried TO fasctHate the
blg-tailed fox OF Wall street. ZIsKA.
------=-=